Birth of the Ruler: The Emergence of the Primordial Race

Somewhere in the ice region of the ancestral world, with its large cracks and craters, Vacuros and Nyxander were standing far apart from each other, silhouetted against the desolate, snow-covered battlefield. Energy that had lain dormant in their bodies pulsed now with the fiery glow of warriors ready to stake their claim.

Their gazes locked on their shared adversary: the white-furred primordial ape. The beast, tall and monstrous, turned its piercing eyes now to one, now to the other, calculating every movement of theirs with its instincts. Every second seemed an eternity while it turned to the first, then the second.

Nyxander's gaze shifted away from the beast, crossing like an invisible comet through the frozen air until it land upon Vacuros. The intensity of his stare was so fierce that Vacuros reflexively turned to meet it. Their eyes clashed like two crossing swords, and in that instant, unspoken words passed between them-a silent agreement sealed. In that instant, they nodded, a pact forged in their shared purpose.

Aetherial Shroud Manipulation: Void Blade!" Nyxander shouted, his voice ringing out as suddenly his void blade materialized, shining bright with otherworldly power. In an instant, he plunged toward the center, where the primordial ape was. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the beast roared and charged to meet him, its massive steps like hammers striking an anvil.

The left fist of the ape sprang forward with the power of an avalanche, in a strike that would squash Nyxander. With a narrow sidestep, he avoided the attack; the wind of the beast's strike caressed his face, a ghostly warning. In one smooth motion, he swung his void blade, cleaving the beast's striking arm in mid-motion. The sidestep threw Nyxander off balance, though, and he had to recover before his next move.

As he raised his head to strike again, the back of the beast's massive right hand slammed into him, sending him hurtling into the air like a ragdoll tossed by a cruel wind. Nyxander's body spiraled, his form a blur against the white expanse, before vanishing from sight.

The primeval ape turned to pursue him, but before it could advance, a searing gash tore across its back. It let out a thunderous roar of pain, its voice echoing like a thousand cries in the frozen abyss. The beast whipped around, its furious gaze landing on Vacuros, who stood with his right index and middle fingers poised like a gun, a faint wisp of energy swirling at his fingertips.

"Rrrrroooorr!" The beast's scream cut through the air with a shrill, grating sound that made Vacuros instinctively clutch at his ears, his focus momentarily shattered. Enraged, the beast lunged for him with murderous intent.

But just as it moved, Nyxander fell from above, landing squarely on its back. The beast bellowed and thrashed about, trying to shake him off like a lion battling the weight of a predator. Nyxander, undeterred, plunged his void blade deep into the creature's neckline with a swift, precise motion. The blade gleamed briefly before disappearing into the beast's thick fur.

Its huge hand came over its shoulder, clamping down on Nyxander with brute force and wrenching him forward; the void blade was still stuck in its neck. It slammed Nyxander toward the frozen ground, but before impact, a deep gash tore through the beast's left thigh, forcing it to drop him and stagger backward onto one knee. A scream of pain and frustration tore from its throat as it fell, but even as it writhed, its wounds began to heal, closing as if stitched by invisible threads.

Regaining its footing, the beast charged at Vacuros in a blind rage, eyes blazing with vengeance. Nyxander appeared beside it mid-stride and plunged his second void blade into the beast's rib shaft in a flash of lightning. Letting out a deafening howl. The beast lashed out with the back of its right arm, sending Nyxander flying once more, but this time it did not pause. its momentum faltered, yet it pressed on, dragging itself towards Vacuros as searing pain hobbled its steps.

Vacuros, his chest heaving, scanned the fallen beast. His eyes caught the glint of purple fluid pooling in the snow, flowing thick rivulets from farther away. The viscous liquid pulsed with energy that could not be ignored. Following the trail upward, there stood Nyxander with his void blade tightly grasped in both hands. The tip of the blade leaned against the cold, blood-stained ground, and the purple fluid flowed freely from it-a grim testament to the beast's end.

During Nyxander's assault, the void blades stuck in the neck and rib shaft of the beast had served as gateways, siphoning its vital blood from within. The blade he held now served as the final exit, draining the beast of its essence and leaving its colossal form lifeless in the frozen expanse.

Vacuros, drawn by the mysterious allure emanating from the flowing purple blood, took a hesitant step closer. The air around it seemed to pulse, a silent call that demanded his attention. He squatted, his shadow stretching long across the ground, and reached out with his right hand. The instant his fingertips brushed the liquid, it clung to him like a sentient being, refusing to let go. The fluid began to seep into his body, invading his veins with a force both foreign and overwhelming.

Suddenly, his body grew unbearably heavy, dragging him to the ground where he landed hard on his rear. The purple fluid surged into him, relentless and unyielding, each wave a torrent of excruciating pain. His head rang repeatedly, as though a temple bell had been struck deep within his skull. His body screamed in agony, each nerve alight as though his skin were being peeled and doused in burning pepper dust.

Thankfully, the Eternalsilk, his treasured Purple Paradox, worked like a guardian, regulating the amount of fluid his body could absorb. Though it dulled the pain, the suffering still carved deep into his being. Veins bulged across his body, grotesque and pulsating, as if the fluid was remaking him from the inside out.

"Hummer," he groaned, his voice guttural and raw, fighting against the onslaught of pain. Nyxander approached him cautiously, his face a mask of worry. Helpless, Nyxander offered whatever comfort he could muster. "Hold on. You'll make it through this. You just have to endure," he said, his words trembling with sincerity. But they fell on deaf ears, drowned out by Vacuros's internal torment.

Minutes stretched into eternity before the fluid fully merged with Vacuros. His eyes, tightly shut, finally stilled as the storm within him began to subside. The air around him shifted, vibrating with a new energy that felt ancient and powerful. His veins, once grotesque, receded, leaving his skin smooth and radiant. As the energy continued to swirl around him, his body grew, expanding until he stood an imposing 25 feet tall, three feet taller than Nyxander.

When Vacuros finally opened his eyes, they glimmered with a strange light, meeting Nyxander's concerned gaze. "Oh, you've opened your eyes. How do you feel now?" Nyxander asked, his voice tinged with relief. But Vacuros, avoiding the question and the moment, turned his gaze away, embarrassment flickering across his face. He rose to his feet with a grace that belied his size.

Meanwhile, not far away, a void corridor materialized between two towering caves, its dark entrance swirling with infinite possibilities. The eerie hum of its formation filled the air. Vacuros took a few steps behind Nyxander, pausing as if to anchor himself in this moment of transformation.

"Vacuros," he finally said, his voice steady yet unfamiliar even to himself.

Nyxander turned to him, his brows furrowing in confusion. "What…?" he asked, the question thick with curiosity.

"That's my name," Vacuros replied simply, his words resonating with finality. Without waiting for a response, he began walking toward the void corridor, each step purposeful.

Nyxander's confusion melted into a smile as he turned toward the defeated primordial ape. Extracting its glimmering Essentia Crystal, he tucked it into his selfmade hide bag and darted after Vacuros.

"Hey, wait! Hold up!" Nyxander called, his voice carrying a mix of excitement and relief as he sprinted to catch up.

Vacuros glanced back briefly, a faint smile gracing his lips before disappearing into the swirling void. Together, they exited the ancestral world, stepping through the enigmatic void gate into whatever awaited them beyond.